Meghan Markle is expanding her media footprint with a new Netflix lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan set to premiere on the 4th of March 2025. Positioned as a “heartfelt tribute to the beauty of Southern California,” the series aims to merge personal storytelling with practical lifestyle advice.
Netflix describes the show as a blend of “practical how-to’s and candid conversations with friends, new and old.” According to the platform, Markle will share her own lifestyle insights, “embracing playfulness over perfection” while engaging in activities ranging from cooking and entertaining to gardening and home design.
Now, actress and producer Mindy Kaling has given the first glimpse into what viewers can expect. Speaking to Time, Kaling revealed details about her appearance on the show and the relaxed, intimate nature of the experience.
Mindy Kaling can be seen in the trailer for With Love, Meghan.
Kaling’s invitation to Montecito
Kaling, a long-time friend of Markle, said her involvement in the series came as a surprise. “I was on maternity leave with my daughter in March and April, and Meghan texted me that she was doing a show where she was going to cook for her friends. Would I want to come to Montecito and have her cook for me?” she recalled.
She agreed without hesitation, calling the experience “a fun maternity leave trip” and admitting that she relished the opportunity to be looked after.
Kaling’s episode focuses on hosting a children’s party – an area where, by her own admission, she lacks expertise. “I love cooking, but I’m really not good at entertaining,” she admitted.
Among the hospitality tips she picked up was Markle’s preference for avoiding overhead lighting when hosting guests. Instead, the Duchess advocates for using “little lamps” to create a warm, inviting atmosphere, yes, even for a children’s party.
“Meghan just knows how to do that stuff,” Kaling said.
With Love, Meghan, will be released March 4, 2025.
Markle’s image and the show’s strategy
Beyond the practical advice, Kaling also pushed back against long-standing media narratives about Markle. “A misconception about Meghan is that she’s in any way fussy or has expectations of fanciness. She really is a down-to-earth person who knows a lot of fun tricks to make entertaining and cooking easier,” she said.
That sentiment aligns with the show’s marketing, which presents Markle as a relatable lifestyle figure, one who embraces authenticity over extravagance. The positioning is a marked departure from the high-profile media ventures she and Prince Harry have pursued since stepping back from royal duties.
While Harry & Meghan (2022) and Heart of Invictus (2023) were documentary-style projects focused on personal storytelling and social impact, With Love, Meghan leans into the aspirational yet accessible content that dominated Markle’s former blog The Tig. Netflix, which has a multiyear content deal with the Sussexes, will be watching closely to see if Markle’s personal brand can translate into lifestyle media success.
Meghan Markle in a still from her upcoming Netflix show.
A rebrand and a trademark battle
The interview with Kaling coincides with Markle’s latest business move: a name change for her lifestyle brand. Initially announced as American Riviera Orchard, the brand has now been rebranded as As Ever. Markle positioned the change as a creative decision, stating on Instagram that the original name was “too limiting.”
“As Ever essentially means as it’s always been and if you followed me since 2014 with The Tig, you know I’ve always loved cooking and crafting and gardening. This is what I do,” Markle said. “And I haven’t been able to share it with you in the same way for the past few years, but now I can.”
However, the rebrand has already sparked legal concerns. As Ever is also the name of a small independent clothing brand based in New York, and its owner, Mark Kolski, has voiced concerns over potential trademark conflicts.
Taking to Instagram, Kolski stated, “We are aware. We are not affiliated.” He later told The Sun that while he is exploring his legal options, he doesn’t want to be forced into changing his business name.
“I’m a very small business, it’s a family-run operation. I’m essentially a one-man band,” he said. “This new venture has the power and money of Netflix behind it. Even if I wanted to do something, I don’t think I have the behemoth of lawyers and money that are behind this.”
The situation echoes past branding controversies involving high-profile figures, where trademark disputes can create PR challenges before a product even launches. For Markle, whose lifestyle empire is still in its infancy, the handling of this issue could set the tone for future brand expansion.
Pictured: Meghan Markle and Mindy Kaling